By Lamin Gibba
Former Gambian athletes both home and abroad on Monday presented some amount of monies to the Gambia secondary School Sports Association (GSSSA) ahead of their 2022 National Athletics Championship fondly called Inter-Schools champions which is slated for the 11th, 12th and 13th of March 2022 at the Independent Stadium in Bakau.
The former athletes group donated US$900 which is equivalent to D47, 982.278 plus €50 which is equivalent to D2, 925.35 and D14,500 from both local and international athletes.
Presenting the monies on behalf of the athletes, Modou Lamin Drammeh said they created this group with a sole aim of assisting and contributing towards the development of grassroots sports starting from the Secondary School Sports.
“We created this group through Mr. Alieu Y. Cham to help in our quota towards the development of grassroots sports starting with the School Sports,” he said.
Mr. Drammeh recalled that it wasn’t easy for athletes during their time even to have sports gear, noting that the monies donated was meant to support the Secondary School Sports Association in their activities in promoting grassroots sports.
“We are praying for more and we hope this can be an example. There is more to be done, so we should not only rely on the government because sports is not owned by the government but it’s owned by us, who developed it.”
Mam Keway Kebbeh, former athlete, now a coach echoed similar sentiments saying this is just a start because they are hoping for more.
For his part Ousman Sabally, a veteran teacher at St. Augustine High School said grassroots sports is one of the most important organisations in the country, noting that grassroots sports is responsible for bringing up athletes to a level where they can achieve future successes.
Ismaila Ceesay president Gambia secondary School Sports Association (GSSSA) said the donation from the former athletes is a dream come true.
“This is what I have been echoing throughout my interviews since we started the championship, that Secondary School Sports needs support.”
He went on to thank the donors for their wonderful contribution, while assuring them that the donated monies will go a long way in galvanizing the 2022 championship edition.
He also thanked Mr. Alieu Y. Cham, former chairman of their association for his immeasurable contribution to secondary schools sports.
